I have used the Prismacolor pencils with great success. I encourage my
students to lightly layer their colors building tints and shades as they go along.
Often, they will use the colorless blenders once their color is visible and
then they can blend into the areas surrounding the object they are working on.
Over the years, I have spent a lot of my budget money on colored pencils for my
middleschool students and have found that Prismacolor's top line works the
best for me. Now, if you wish to go the watercolor way, then go for moderately
priced, Derwent watercolor pencils.
Barbara